Skip to main content
Sabrang
Sabrang
Dalit Bahujan Adivasi

AIUFWP elects Sokalo Gond as new President

The Adivasi woman, best known for her sustained campaign for Adivasi rights to jal, jangal, zameen, promises to commit to the cause with renewed vigour

CJP Team 04 Dec 2021

Sokala

Adivasi and forest rights leader Sokalo Gond was elected the new President of All India Union For Forest Working People (AIUFWP) on December 3, 2021 marking the conclusion of the 2nd National Conference of the Union.

On Friday, prominent leaders working in the field of defending forest, land and legal rights of Adivasis, other forest-dwelling communities and forest workers, came together to discuss AIUFWP’s future interventions and resolutions.

Sokala

Sokala

Sokala

Accordingly, members also conducted elections for various post holders in the national committee. Sokalo Gond, a fearless forest rights defender who inspires women leaders across the country with her strength and courage, was elected as the President of the Union. Thanking the attendees for the same, she spoke about the impact of Covid-19 on Adivasi education and health.

“We know we need to challenge the ruling regime, and for that we need to firstly, make sure the four district members present here voice their grievances. We will show them our work to improve health and education and our next generation will get the opportunities we didn’t,” said Sokalo.

Sokalo Gond and fellow activist Nivada Rana had moved Supreme Court against its 2019 order calling for the ‘eviction’ of millions of Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities. While the apex court order was based on the Indian Forest Act 1927, Sokalo and Nivada opposed the same as an abuse of their constitutional rights. Gond and Rna's petition was backed by CJP and AIUFWP.

Further, Sokalo Gond is also among the women forest rights defenders from Lilasi village, who stood up against police brutality in May 2018. She was illegally detained and kept behind bars along with Kismatiya Gond, for months until a sustained campaign by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) helped their release.

Recalling the same, Sokalo earlier said, “The forest department officials used to beat us and try to gang up on us in the beginning. We had some hard times. These officials are still looting us and no one holds them accountable. However, we – especially women – will fight for our constitutional rights.”

During the inaugural event, CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad lauded Sokalo and other women leaders, saying, “Women leaders and senior members of the Union stand at the front because this unique movement believes in being led by those struggling on-ground. CJP continues to support the people who mobilise on-ground for jal, jangal, zameen.”

The Conference ended with a passionate rendition of revolutionary songs by the Pratidhwani team led by Subhendu Ghosh.

Related:

Teesta Setalvad calls out modern day "zamindars" who are trying to usurp control of India's forests
AIUFWP’s 2nd National Conference begins in New Delhi
AIUFWP’s second National Conference to discuss land, legal, constitutional rights and more
Jal, Jungle, Zameen: Chhattisgarh Adivasis march 300kms to oppose coal mining projects

AIUFWP elects Sokalo Gond as new President

The Adivasi woman, best known for her sustained campaign for Adivasi rights to jal, jangal, zameen, promises to commit to the cause with renewed vigour

Sokala

Adivasi and forest rights leader Sokalo Gond was elected the new President of All India Union For Forest Working People (AIUFWP) on December 3, 2021 marking the conclusion of the 2nd National Conference of the Union.

On Friday, prominent leaders working in the field of defending forest, land and legal rights of Adivasis, other forest-dwelling communities and forest workers, came together to discuss AIUFWP’s future interventions and resolutions.

Sokala

Sokala

Sokala

Accordingly, members also conducted elections for various post holders in the national committee. Sokalo Gond, a fearless forest rights defender who inspires women leaders across the country with her strength and courage, was elected as the President of the Union. Thanking the attendees for the same, she spoke about the impact of Covid-19 on Adivasi education and health.

“We know we need to challenge the ruling regime, and for that we need to firstly, make sure the four district members present here voice their grievances. We will show them our work to improve health and education and our next generation will get the opportunities we didn’t,” said Sokalo.

Sokalo Gond and fellow activist Nivada Rana had moved Supreme Court against its 2019 order calling for the ‘eviction’ of millions of Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities. While the apex court order was based on the Indian Forest Act 1927, Sokalo and Nivada opposed the same as an abuse of their constitutional rights. Gond and Rna's petition was backed by CJP and AIUFWP.

Further, Sokalo Gond is also among the women forest rights defenders from Lilasi village, who stood up against police brutality in May 2018. She was illegally detained and kept behind bars along with Kismatiya Gond, for months until a sustained campaign by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) helped their release.

Recalling the same, Sokalo earlier said, “The forest department officials used to beat us and try to gang up on us in the beginning. We had some hard times. These officials are still looting us and no one holds them accountable. However, we – especially women – will fight for our constitutional rights.”

During the inaugural event, CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad lauded Sokalo and other women leaders, saying, “Women leaders and senior members of the Union stand at the front because this unique movement believes in being led by those struggling on-ground. CJP continues to support the people who mobilise on-ground for jal, jangal, zameen.”

The Conference ended with a passionate rendition of revolutionary songs by the Pratidhwani team led by Subhendu Ghosh.

Related:

Teesta Setalvad calls out modern day "zamindars" who are trying to usurp control of India's forests
AIUFWP’s 2nd National Conference begins in New Delhi
AIUFWP’s second National Conference to discuss land, legal, constitutional rights and more
Jal, Jungle, Zameen: Chhattisgarh Adivasis march 300kms to oppose coal mining projects

Related Articles

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Theme

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Campaigns

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Videos

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

IN FACT

Analysis

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Archives